Justice News

Delaware County Man Convicted In Tax Scheme

PHILADELPHIA – A federal jury, today, returned guilty verdicts against Jean Baptiste Alvarez, a/k/a “Alex,” 43, of Aldan, PA, on charges related to a tax fraud scheme. Alvarez was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States with respect to false claims, aggravated identity theft, and misuse of Social Security numbers. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Baylson scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 26, 2016. Alvarez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least two years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of 24 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a possible fine, and a $500 special assessment.

According to evidence presented at trial, Alvarez unlawfully provided to Peterson Rene, charged elsewhere, the personal identifying information (PII) of hundreds of real persons. Specifically, the defendant sold Rene patient information labeled “census sheets” that were created by, and kept in the normal course of business, at the Kirkbride Center health care facility where the defendant worked. These “census sheets” list personal identifying information of patients, including names, social security numbers, and dates of birth. From 2012 through 2015, Alvarez and Rene conspired with others to use the stolen identifying information on tax returns for the purpose of obtaining payment of false, fictitious, and fraudulent refunds.

The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terri A. Marinari and DOJ Tax Division Trial Attorney Ann M. Cherry.